Syria pays sp 200 million for Golan apple farmers

Syria's Ministry of Finance offered the General Institution for Freezing, Storing and Marketing a loan of SP 200 million to pay the price of apples bought from Syrian citizens of occupied Golan, a newspaper said on Friday.

" The Institution will start sending the cost of the apple directly from the ministry loan to Syrian farmers of Golan. It will be paid back after the apples are sold by the Institution," al-Thawra newspaper said in a special report.

Apple quantities coming from occupied Golan farmers have reached about 4,000 tones of the agreed upon quantity which totals about 7,000 tones and started entering into Syria since March 14th.

The imported apples come from the occupied Golan farmers under the supervision of the International Red Cross Organization and the help of the international peace keeping forces in occupied Golan.

Chairman of the International Red Cross Committee office in Damascus announced the agreement with Israeli authorities came after hard talks during which Israel was trying to hinder the operation.

The process has been prepared in cooperation with the United Nations forces in Golan and after minister of economy Amer Hosni Lutfi declared the step has come in light of the political decision to "enhance ties and communication with our brethren in occupied Golan and support them."